# Install colfer with Homebrew

Schema compiler for binary data exchange. Version 1.8.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:colfer
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install colfer
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:colfer
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 1.8.1
- **Source summary:** Schema compiler for binary data exchange
- **Homepage:** <https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- colf (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 1.8.1
## Project history and usage

Colfer is a binary serialization format and schema compiler optimized for speed and size.

### Project history

The official README describes Colfer as inspired by Protocol Buffers and centered on the colf compiler, which reads schema definitions and generates source code for marshaling and unmarshaling data structures.

### Adoption history

Official packaging notes mention prebuilt compiler releases and Homebrew installation, indicating a distribution model aimed at command-line compiler use rather than only library embedding.

### How it is used

The colf command generates C, Go, Java, or JavaScript output from .colf schema files. The README recommends committing generated source code to version control to preserve build consistency and reduce compiler installation requirements.

### Why package nerds care

Colfer is notable as a small schema compiler package with no runtime configuration and a source-generation workflow similar to other IDL and serialization compilers.

### Timeline

- 2015: Official GitHub repository is created.
- 2010s: README documents C, Go, Java, and JavaScript code generation support.
- 2020s: README continues to document Homebrew installation and prebuilt compiler releases.

### Related projects

- The official manual lists protoc and flatc as related tools, placing Colfer in the same package-manager neighborhood as Protocol Buffers and FlatBuffers compilers.

### Sources

- <https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer>
- <https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer/wiki/Spec>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/colfer.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/colfer.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph